[uncltodd]

You mentioned 3rd gear, Brudda... Gunrack's engine was built for 1/4 mile and a 3.72 rear end. With a change to a bigger carb after the car was delivered with a 3.23 rear end, (nobody's fault) and even with the super-lopy cam, she LOVES 3rd gear.

I have pulled out into 55MPH traffic, on an uphill slope, in third, accidentally, but the engine was torquey enough to haul my worthless a$$ up to speed in just a few seconds, enough to avoid being eaten from the rear by a semi doing 70 MPH in a 55MPH zone. (common here. I HATE semis!)

Third gear rules.

Bad for gas mileage, great for control in traffic. Gunrack justs starts to get aggressive at about 2K RPM with her cam, very responsive from 2.5K to 5K.

In these little cars, which are almost invisible, the throttle is as important as the brakes, IMHO. Many times I have nailed it to get in front of a semi changing lanes to avoid being semi-squashed or a$$-ended by an SUV behind me that didn't see me! That's why I NEVER drive at night!!

Third gear will pull cleanly and happily through the legal speed limit too quickly, she loves the cam.

Like in, "inhale, exhale."

I don't use 4th gear much, mostly in twitchy highway situations.

Fifth gear is definitely overdrive in Gunrack, 2100 RPM @ 70 MPH according to my cop friends' radars. (She reads 6 low at that speed) Same RPM as my Expedition???